UCSD WOMEN’S CREW PROGRAM RECEIVES NCAA PENALTIES

The UC San Diego women’s rowing team has been placed on one year’s probation for violations that included using ineligible athletes and the former head coach providing anti-inflammatory drugs to rowers, the NCAA announced Tuesday.

The violations occurred during the 2010-11 and 2011-2012 academic years under former head coach Pattie Pinkerton. Pinkerton coached at UCSD for 13 years. She was fired in May 2012. An assistant coach who was found culpable resigned.

Other penalties against the women’s team included a public reprimand, vacating wins and a $2,500 fine.

According to the NCAA, Pinkerton allowed three ineligible athletes to compete by using the names of eligible athletes. The NCAA ruled two other ineligible athletes traveled with the team and under Pinkerton’s direction signed for meals under the names of eligible athletes or other individuals.

Pinkerton denied the accusations, but UCSD students confirmed the NCAA’s findings. The NCAA stated that on at least 24 occasions Pinkerton provided a prescription anti-inflammatory drug to six athletes.

UCSD reported the infractions to the NCAA after rowers met with a university administrator in May 2012 to voice complaints.

Regarding Pinkerton allowing ineligible athletes to compete and providing anti-inflammatory drugs to rowers, UCSD Athletic Director Dr. Earl Edwards said, “Those two infractions clearly constitute unethical conduct by the coach. As a result of that, I felt we needed to take swift and decisive action, which resulted in her termination.”

Pinkerton could not be reached for comment.

In its report, the NCAA referred to the three ineligible athletes who competed as Student-athletes I, II and III.

Student-athlete I was a two-year college transfer who was ineligible to compete because she studied three years at a community college without earning an Associate of Arts degree.

In an interview with a UCSD athletic official in May 2012, Student-athlete I said Pinkerton told her “don’t tell a whole lot of people (about her competing) because we don’t want people to find out.”

Student-athlete II was academically ineligible in the 2011 spring season. But in a spring regatta, Student-athlete II raced under the name of a rower who became ill.

In fall 2011, Student-athlete III was ineligible. The NCAA report stated that before a November competition, Pinkerton told the athlete she was going to replace a teammate “who had been stung by a stingray.” Student-athlete III raced under the name of another student-athlete.